Generator regulating device



B. M. LEECE 2,052,049

GENERATOR REGULATING DEVI GE Aug. 25, 1936.

Filed May i8, 1955' F76. 2f F75. 5

-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIP- lNvENToR.

E/vm-:rr/ 565 Patented Aug. 25, l'1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,052,049 l GENERATOR REGULATING DEVICE Bennett M. Leece, Cleveland,

Ohio, assignor to e The Lecce-Neville Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application May 18, 1935, Serial No. 22,251

7 Claims.

dering the same substantially universally appli-- cable to all electric generators of a given class or rating.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved voltage regulator, of the type referred to, having a novel arrangement of magnet coils and contacts whereby substantially full field excitation is had during starting of the generator, after which the field strength is automatically varied to maintain the terminal voltage at a predetermined value independently of changes in the speed and load of the generator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved voltage regulator, of the type having a plurality of contacts controlled by the vibratory armature of an electromagnet, and wherein the circuit connections for the contacts and the energizing coils of the magnet are such that the vibratory armature cooperates with one contact during starting of the generator, and thereafter cooperates with another contact to maintain the terminal voltage at a substantially constant value.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved voltage regulator, of the type above referred to, wherein the energizing winding of the electromagnet includes a voltage coil, and an auxiliary coil which either is short circuited or magnetically opposes the voltage coll during starting of the generator and subsequently magnetically assists the voltage coil.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved voltage regulator embodying a vibratory armature and an electromagnet having a voltage coil and an auxiliary coil, and wherein circuit connections controlled by the armature cause the auxiliary coil to be either short circuited or energized iny opposition to the Vvoltage coil during starting f or low speed operation of thev generator, and subsequently to be intermittently connected into the field circuit and at the same time energized in additive relation to the voltage -contact for controlling circuits which coil to thereby veau-se the amature to intermittently establish a field deenergizing circuit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Y will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Fig. vl is a diagrammatic circuit arrangements of regulator;

view illustrating the my improved voltage Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating another 10 embodiment of my invention and Fig. 3 ls a diagrammatic view illustrating another form of my improved voltage regulator.

More detailed reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing. for the purpose of de- 15 scribing my improved regulator which is especially applicable to variable speed, variable load generators of the type commonly used with the battery charging and lighting systems of motor vehicles. It will be understood of course that the invention may be embodied in various other regulators and regulating arrangements which come within the scope of the appended claims.

The present invention has to do particularly with vibratory regulators of the double contact type, and is an improvement over the regulators disclosed in my earlier application Ser. No. 674,-

008, filed June 2, 1933, and in my earlier application Serial No. 700,813, illed Dec. 4, 1933.

I have found that in the operation of voltage regulators it is desirable to have circuit connections which will aiford substantially full ileld excitation for starting or low speed operation of the generator so that the terminal voltage will be quickly built up or maintained. It is also desirable to have the terminal voltage thereafter maintained at a substantially constant value, notwithstandingthe occurrence oi' variations in the speed and load of the generator.' In order that the regulator may be commercially practical and eiiicient and reliable in operation, it should be capable of accomplishing these ends with very llttle arcing or wear at the contacts. I ilnd that these desired results can be best obtained by providing a doublecontact arrangement wherein the armature cooperates with one contact during starting of the generator and thereafter shifts over into vibratory cooperation with another maintain the terminal voltage at the desired constant value.

In Fig. l of the drawing I show a generator Il which may be a third brush type of generator now commonly used on motor vehicles. As represented in the drawing the/generator has main brushes il and Il, and a field winding i3 having one end thereof connected to the third brush I4.

The voltage regulator I5 comprises an electromagnet having a frame I6 with energizing coils I1 and I8 thereon. An armature lI9 extends across the poles of the frame I6 and is mounted for vibratory movement under the influence of the magnetizing windings I1 and I8.` The armature may be ilexibly lmounted on the frame by means of the resilient member 20, which also electrically' connects the armature with the frame.

The regulator I5 is provided with circuit controlling contacts which may include an upper contact 22 aid a lower contact 23 between which a portion of the vibratory armature I9 may extend. The armature may be provided with a contact 24 for cooperation with the contact 22 and a contact 25 for cooperation with the contact 23. Contacts 24 and 25 are electrically connected with the armature I9 and hence electrically connected with each other. A tension spring 26 has one end thereof connected with an anchor 21 and the other end connected with the armature I8 so as to normally urge the contact 24 into engagement with the contact 22.

The magnet coil I1 may be referred to as a voltage coil because its ends are connected respectively to the main brushes II and I2 of the generator. One-end of this coil is connected with the main brush I I through conductor 28, contact 22, and conductor 38 and the other end of this coil is connected with the main brush I2 through conductor 3I. The coil I8 is an .auxiliary or secondary magnet coil having one end thereof grounded on the frame I6 and its other end connected with the main brush I2 by the conductor 3I. The auxiliary coil I8 is so wound and arranged with respect to the voltage coil I1 that when it is energized by current owing therethrough in one direction, it magnetically opposes the voltage coil, and when energized by current owing therethrough in the opposite direction, it magnetically assists the voltage coil.

It will be noted from Fig. l that the upper contact 22 is connected with the main brush II of the generator by the conductor 38 and that the lower contact-23 is connected with the main brush I2 of the generator through conductor 32 and conductor 3l.

Load conductors such as the conductors 34 and 35 may be connectedjwith the main brushes II and I2, or with the conductors 30 and 3I leading therefrom, for supplying current from the generator to various apparatus to be operated thereby. In this instance the load conductors 34 and 35 supply current to the clamps 36 and to the storage battery 31. A suitable switch or cutout 38 may be provided in a part of the load circuit such as in the conductor 34.

In the operation of the regulator arrangementl just described let it be assumed that the generator I8 is being started from rest. At'this time the contact 24 is held against the contact 22 by the spring 26 and, hence, the field winding I3 will be connected directly across the main brush II and thev third brush I4, and as the generator bel gins to operate the eld magnetization will build up rapidly. At this time the voltage coil I1, which is connected -across the main brushes' II and I2, will also be energized and will causev magnetization of the regulator frame I6. While the contacts 22 and 24 are closed, current will also travel from the main brush II through conductor 38, and through the armature and frame of the regulator, and the through the auxiliary coil I8, and back to the main brush I2 through conductor 3|. The flow of current through the circuit just traced energizes the coil I8 so as to magnetically oppose the voltage coil Il. I

'Ihe resistance and number of turns of the coilv I8 are of course selected in accordance. with the functions which this coil ls to perform in relation i to the other parts of the apparatus, and with rebined value of two coils will be ampere turns,

and when the coil I8 magnetically assists the coil I1, the`comblned effect of the two coils will be 250 ampere turns.

As the speed of the generator builds up and the ield strength increases, the terminal voltage will increase correspondinghr. The building up of the generator speed will also cause an increase in the magnetization of the frame I6 as the result of the preponderance of the coil I1 overl the then opposing coil I8. When the magnetization of the frame I6 increases to the point where the armature I9 is attracted against the action of the spring 26, and moves the contact 24 out of engagement with the contact 22, the circuit connections for the ileld winding I3 and the magnet coil I8 are changed. Upon the opening of vthe contacts 22 and 24 the magnet coil I8 is con` I8, and through the frame and armature of the regulator, and then through field -winding IQ back to iield brush I4. The resistance of the magnet coils I1 and I8 now being inserted in the eld circuit causes a decrease inthe ampere turns of the field winding I3, as compared with the ampere turns of this winding when connected directly across the brushes II and I4. and hence' causes a decrease in the rateat which the 'tera minal voltage of the generator is building up.

The opening of the contacts 22 and 24 inserts the magnet coil I8 into the eld circuit, as Just explained, but it will be noted that the'direction of current flow through this coil is in a direction opposite to what it was when the contacts 22 and 24 were closed, and instead of opposing the voltage coil I1 the coil I8' now assists the voltage coil. With the winding I8 assisting the -voltage coil I1, the armature I8 will be attracted with i increased force and will be shifted away from the contact 22 and toward the contact 23. As the terminal voltage continues to build up, the attraction on the armature I9 will'lncrease corre-l spondingly and the contact 25 will ultimately be moved into engagement with the contact 23, whereupon the energizing circuits for the eld winding and then magnet coil I8 are again changed.

The closing of the contacts 25 and 23 causes the ield winding I3 to be connected across the brushes I4 and i2, which results in a substantial deenergization of the field winding. The energizing circuit for the field winding now extends 75 from the third brush I4 through the iield winding and through the armature oi' the regulator. and then through contacts 25 and 23, and conductors II and 32 to main brush I2. Since the outer end of the ileld winding is'now connected with main brush I2 instead o1 main'brush II there will be a tendency to reverse the ilow of tield current and this tendency will cause the held ux to be suddenly collapsed and the eld to be substantially deenergized. The closing of the contacts'25 and 2l also short circuits the auxiliary coil I8 of the regulator and the resulting deenergization of this coil causes a decrease in the total magnetization oi' the regulator frame. The combined eil'ect of the sudden deenergization oi the held Il and the decrease in the magnetization oi' the regulator frame by short circuiting the coil I5, allows the contacts 23 and 25 to be quickly opened by the spring 28. The opening of these contacts restores the field energizing circuit which includes the regulator coils I1 and Il, and thereupon the eld strength again builds up. l

It will be understood of course that the operation of the regulator as just explained takes place with a very rapid vibratory movement of the ar- It will also be understood that by reason of the arrangement of the winding I8,

Y the contact 24 will cooperate with the contact 22 only long enough to quickly build up the eld strength and the terminal voltage of the generator during starting, and then the armature will shift over into cooperation with the contact 23. Thereafter the vibratory action of the armature will cause rapid opening and closing of the contacts 23 and 25 to maintain the voltage substantially constant as explained above, without causing closing of the contacts 22 and 24.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing I have shown a regulator arrangement similar to that iust explained, but wherein the circuits for the magnet coils 40 and 4I of the regulator 42 are somewhat diierent. In the arrangement of Fig. 2 the generator 43 is provided with a eld winding 44 and with main brushes 45 and 45, and a third brush 41. The regulator 42 has upper and lower contacts 49 and 50 with which the contacts 5I and 52 of the regulator armature 53- cooperate under the iniluence of the action of the coils 40 and 4I and the tension spring 54.

'I'he coil 4i of the regulator is the voltage coil and the coil 4Il is an auxiliary coil arranged 'in additive relation to the voltage coil. One end of the coil 40 is grounded on the frame 55 of the regulator and its other end is connected with the main brush 45 through the conductors 56 and 51. The upper contact 49 is connected with the main brush by the conductor 51 and the lower contact 50 is connected with the main brush 46 by the conductor 58. The voltage coil 4I has one end connected with the main brush 45 through the conductors 56 and 51, and its other end connected with the main brush by the conductor 58.

When the contacts 49 and 5I are closed, such as when the generator is being started up, the field winding 44 is connected directly across the main brush 45 and third brush 41 and at this time the magnet coil 40 is short circuited by the conductor 55. When terminal voltage of the generator builds up and the armature 53 is attracted against the action of the spring 54. the opening or the contacts 49 and 5I causes the magnet coil 4l to be connected in series with the eld winding 44. This coil now being energized, assists the voltage coil 4I and shifts the operation of the armature 55 so that it will cooperate with contact 50 instead oi'ccntact 4'1. The held circuit at this time may be traced from main brush 45 through conductor 51, contact 49, conductor 55, magnet coil 40, and then through regulator 5 frame and armature 55 and 53, and through iield winding 44 to main brush 41.

As the terminal voltage of the generator continues to increase. the armature 53 will be attracted by the increased magnetization of the lo magnet frame 55 produced by the additive coils 40 and 4I, and the contacts 52 and 50 will be closed. The closing of these contacts connects the outer end of the field `winding 44 with the main brush 45 through the conductor 58 to cause 15 a substantial collapse of held iiux and deenergization of the eld winding in the manner explained above. A corresponding decrease occurs in the terminal voltage oi the generator and ailows the contacts 50 and 52 to be quickly opened by the spring 54. The opening or the contacts restores the eld energizing circuit which includes the coil` 40, and the eld flux again builds up.

During the operation of the regulator, as just 25 explained, it should be understood that the armature 53 moves with a very rapid vibratory action during the closing and opening of the contacts 52v and 50.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a regulator arrangement which is identical with that of Fig. 1, with the exception that a resistor is connected between the armature of the regulator and the upper contact. Since the arrangement oi' Fig. 3 is otherwise identical with that of Fig. l, I have used primed reference characters in Fig. 3 to designate the corresponding parts. The resistance 60' may or may not be employed, but lwhen used tends to reduce arcing across the contacts. This resistance also serves as an auxiliary load resistor across the main brushes Il' and I2 when the contacts 23' and 25' are closed.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing it will now be seen that I have provided improved regulator arrangements for controlling the voltage of electric generators and maintaining the terminal voltage at a desired predetermined value. It will also be seen that in the regulator arrangements which I have provided, an auxiliary magnet coil either opposes the voltage coil of the regulator or is short circuited while the generator is being started up and subsequently assists the voltage coil in causing the eld circuitto be altered to produce the desired regulating action. With the arrangement which I have disclosed it will be seen furthermore, that the coils of the regulator'exert maximum effectiveness in altering or controlling the field circuit in such manner as to cause the field to be quickly collapsed or built up, the result of which is to maintain the terminal voltage at the desired predetermined value by opening and closing only one pair ot contacts. With the arrangements which I have disclosed, a very rapid vibratory movement of the armature is obtained with minimum sparking and wear at the con-4 tacts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In combination, a generator having brushes and a rleid winding, a regulator comprising a magnet having energizing coils and a vibratory armature adapted to be actuated by the magnet, a pair of contacts adapted to be closed by said armature to connect the field winding across 75 magnet brushes of the generator,

tacts adapted to be intermittently closed and opened by vibration of the armature, said energizingcoils including a voltage coil and an auxiliary coil, circuit connections Vfor substantiallyr deenergizing the eld 'winding when the second pair of contacts is closed, and circuit connections for energizing said auxiliary coil in magnetically opposed relation to said voltage coil when the ilrst mentioned pair of contacts is closed.

2. In combination, a generator having brushes and a eld winding, a regulator comprising a' magnet having energizing coils and a vibratory armature adapted to be actuated by the magnet, a pair of contacts adapted to be closed by said amature to connect the field winding across brushes of the generator, a second pair of contacts adapted to be intermittently closed and opened by vibration of the armature, said energizing coils including a voltage coil and an auxiliary coil, circuit connections for substantially deenergizing the field winding when the second pair of contacts is closed, and circuit connections -for energizing said auxiliary coil in magnetically opposed relation to said voltage coil when the nrst mentioned pair of contacts is closed and in additive relation to the voltage coil when said first mentioned pair of contacts is open. Y 3. In combination, a generator having brushes and a field winding, a regulator comprising a magnet having energizing coils and a vibratory armature adapted to be actuated by the magnet, a pair of contacts adapted to be closed by said armature to' connect the eld windingacross brushes of the generator, a second pair of contacts adaptedfto be intermittently closed and opened by vibration of the armature, said energizing coils including a voltage coil and an auxiliary coil, circuit connections for substantially deenergizing the eld winding when the second pair of contacts is closed, and circuit connections for energizing said auxiliary coil in magnetically opposed relation to said voltage coil when the first mentioned pair of contacts is closed, and in additive relation to the voltage coil and in series with the eld winding whenever both pairs of` contacts are open. 4. In combination, a generator having brushes and a eld winding, a regulator comprising a having energizing coils and a vibratory armature adapted to be actuated by the magnet, a pair of contacts adapted to be closed by said armature to connect the' eld winding across a second pair of contacts 'adapted to be intermittently closed and opened by vibration of the armature, said energizing coils including a voltage coil and an auxiliary coil, circuit connections for substantially deenergizing the field winding when the second pair of contacts is closed, and circuit connections for energizing said auxiliary coil in magnetically opposed relation to said voltage coil when the :'rst mentioned pair of contacts is closed and to substantially deenergize said auxiliary coil when the second pair of contacts is closed.

. 5. In combination, a generator having brushes including a pair of main brushes anda third brush and a field'win'ding with one end thereof connected with the third brush, a regulator comprising a magnet having energizing coils and a vibratory armature adapted to be actuated by the contact of said pair with'said one main brush and the other contact of said pair with the other main brush, and a spring acting on said arma-v ture to bias the contact means thereof toward saidone contact of said pair, said auxiliary coil being energized to magnetically oppose the'voltage coil when the contact means of the armature engages said one contact of said pair.

vo. In combination, a generator having brushes including a pair of main brushes and a third brush and a tleld winding with one end thereof connected with the third brush, a regulator comprising a magnet having energizing coils and a vibratory armature adapted to be actuated by the magnet, a pair of spaced contacts, contact means carried by the armature for cooperation with the contacts of said pair, said eld winding having its other end connected with the contact means of the armature, the energizing coils of the magnet including a voltage coil and an auxlliary coil having one end connected with one main brush and its other end connected with the contact means of the armature, means connecting one contact of said pair with said one main vbrush and the other contact of said pair with the other main brush, and a spring acting on said armature to bias the contact means thereof toward said one contact of said pair, said auxiliary coil being arranged to magnetically"oppose thevoltage coil when the contact means of the arma- Ature engages said one contact of said pair and to magnetically assist the voltage coil when the contact means of the armature moves away from the said one contact of said pair. x

'1. In combination, a generator having a giield winding, a regulator comprising a magnet having energizing coils and a vibratory armature adapted to be actuated by the magnet, a circuit for the eld winding including a resistor, a pair of contacts adapted to be closed by said armature for short-circuiting said resistance out of the field circuit, a second pair of contacts adapted to be closed by said armature, said energizing coils including a voltage coil and an auxiliary coil, and

circuit connections controlled by said pairs of' BENNETT M. LEECE. 

